Final answer:
Truss design drawings are vital in ensuring building stability and should detail span, spacing, and loads, which are key to supporting both compression and shear loads.
Step-by-step explanation:
Truss design drawings are crucial documents in both architecture and engineering. They should include several key elements that detail the structural requirements of a truss system. These drawings are essential for ensuring that buildings have stable foundations and framing systems capable of supporting the necessary loads.
The primary elements that must be included in truss design drawings are the span, spacing, and loads. The span refers to the length of the truss and dictates how it will bridge the open space.
Spacing details the distance between each truss member, which affects the structure's ability to distribute compression loads and shear loads.
Lastly, understanding the loads is critical, as it defines the weight the trusses must support, including both dead loads (the weight of the structural elements themselves) and live loads (weight from usage and environmental factors).